Telephone booth



Jan..28, 1941` P. H. sHERRoN TELEPHONE BOOTH Filed March 12, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f lll/llc Jan. 28, 1941. P. H. sHl-:RRON

TELEPHONE BOOTH Filed March l2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 2s, 1941. P; H, SWERRONv 2,229,775

TELEPHONE BOOTH 'Filed March 12, 1958 `4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 28, 1941. P. H. sHERRoN TELEPHONE BOOTH Filed March l2, 1938 .SheetS-Shee'fl 4 Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved telephone booth. It is the object of this invention to provide a flreproof and substantially soundproof telephone booth of attractive appearance, constructed 5 preferably of metal, and so designed that the various structural elements thereof can be easily fabricated in quantity, shipped to desired locations and very readily and easily assembled without the necessity of using skilled labor. l In general, the telephone booth in accordance with this invention comprises a base including a separable oor, an outer wall or shell, preferably. of metal, formed in a plurality of separable sections, a removable ceiling assembly including a separable roof and a detachable inner shell or lining spaced fromthe outer wall to provide room for sound insulating material therebetween. In accordance with this invention, all of these various units will be complete in themselves, may be easily fabricated from, for example, sheet metal, and may quickly be secured together to form a finished booth of rigid construction and pleasing appearance.

The novel features of design and structure by means of which these objects are accomplished may best be described in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention and various modifications.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the booth in accordance with this. invention showing it in assembled form.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view showing in perspective the interior corner construction.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the assembled booth.

Figure 4 is a .perspective view of the base of the telephone booth.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the blanks from which thebase shown in Figure 4 is fabricated.

Figure 6 is a detail View showing the corner post structure.

Figure 7 is av plan view of the blank from which the corner post shown in Figure 6 is formed.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail view showing the construction of a corner angle.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a part of the blank from which the corner angle shown in Figure 8 is formed. v

Figure 10 is a horizontal section through a modified form of booth as assembled.

Figure 11 is a partial horizontal section through a further modified form of booth as partly aS- sembled.

And Figure 12 is a perspective View showing a modified type of base construction. v

For convenience the several structural elements which go to make up the telephone booth in accordance with this invention will be described in the order in which they are assembled when erecting the booth.

The base assembly, best shown in Figures 1 and 4, comprises two sections I and I', respectively, which are mirror images of each other, formed from two strips of sheet metal, blanked out to the shape indicated in Figure 5. The two sections, after being formed from the sheet metal blanks by bending the blanks at right angles along the dotted lines shown in Figurev 5, are generally channel-shaped in cross Section and have a lower flange 3 and an upper flange 5, the latter of which is provided with a plurality of apertures 'I for use in securing the othersections of the booth te the base, as hereinafter described. 20 The upper flange 5 also has a portion bent upwardly at right angles to itself to form an 4upright ange 9. i

The floor of the booth `assembly is formed of a sheet metal plate I I which rests on the flanges 3 and is bent upon itself at I3 where it extends into the doorway to maintain the floor level. A strap I5 is also welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the floor II from front to rear along its center line to prevent sagging. When the floor has been positioned in place on the flanges 3, the two sections of the base assembly are secured together, preferably by welding, at I1.

A heavy rubber composition floor covering I9 is placed upon the iloor I I and extends upwardly 35 along the inside of the base assembly nearly to the upper flange 5. If desired, the sill beneath the doorway may be protected by a metallic plate 2l secured to the doubled floor plate at I3.

The corner assemblies, four in number, are next secured to the base. Each of these corner assemblies comprises a corner post and an inner corner angle secured thereto, as shown in Figures 6 to 9. Each corner post, shown in completed form in Figure 6, is formedfrom the blank shown in Figure 7. In its completed form the corner post comprises two panels 32 and 32 extending at right angles to each other, which panels terminate at their bottom edges in an inturned iiange 33 provided with apertures 35 and along their lateral edges in inturned flanges 3I and 3l', respectively. The panels 32 and 32' are doubled upon themselves at their top edger at 31 and then bent inwardly to forma horizontalv flange 39 .5 5

spaced slightly below the top edge of the panels and provided with apertures 4|.

The corner angles, shown in Figure 8 in completed form, are formed from the blankshown in Figure 9 (since the structure of these corner angles is identical at the top and bottom, respectively, only the upper portion thereof is shown in these figures). Each corner angle comprises two panels 4| and 4|' extending at right angles to each other and formed at their top and bottom edges into outwardly extending horizontal flanges 43 provided with apertures 45.

In the -caseof the corner angles used in making up the two rear corner assemblies, each of the panels 4| and 4| is bent outwardly along its free lateral edge to form shoulder portions 41 and 41', and then again at right angles to form offset flanges 49 and 49 extending parallel to the face of the panels.

In the case, however, of the corner angles making up the two front corner assemblies, one of the panels 4|, 4| is formed with a shoulder 41 and flange 49 as indicated, but the other of the two panels is not bent along the line 42 (Figure 9) but only along the line 40 to give a single outwardly extending flange 49".

The corner angles are secured to the corner posts to form the completed corner assemblies with the lower flanges 43 of the corner angles resting on the flange 33 of the corner post and the upper flanges 43 of the corner angles positioned immediately beneath the flange 39 o-f the corner post. The flanges 49 and 49 are then secured, preferably by welding, to the inner face of the panels 32, 32 of the corner post in the case of the two rear corner assemblies; while in the two front corner assemblies flange 49 is secured to the inner face of the panel 32 of the corner post and the flange 49" is secured, preferably by welding, to the inner side of the flange 3| of the corner post.

In securing the corner assemblies to the base, the flanges 33 on the corner assemblies are placed upon the upper face of the flange 5 on the base and the corner assembly is then secured in place by machine screws 5| which pass through the apertures 1 in the flange 5 and enter the tapped holes 35 in the flange 33 and 45 in the flanges 43.

Three side panels 6I, each identical in structure, form the outer side walls of the booth. Each side panel 6| is formed at its lower edge with an inturned horizontal flange 63 and at its upper edge is doubled upon itself at 65 and then bent inwardly at right angles to form a horizontal flange 61 spaced below the upper edge of the panel 6| and provided with a plurality of apertures 68. Along each lateral edge the panel 6| is bent inwardly at right angles to form a shoulder 1| and is then bent again at right angles to form an offset flange 13 extending parallel to the face of the panel 6|. The flange 13 is not quite co-extensive in height with the panel 6|, being cut off at a point 69, spaced slightly below the level of the flange 61. Secured to the flange 13, preferably by welding, is an angle bar 15 so positioned as to leave a relatively narrow outwardly opening slot between its free flange and the shoulder 1|.

In erecting the side wall panels 6 I they are put in position between the erected corner assemblies with the flanges 3|, 3|' of these assemblies positioned in the slot formed between the angle iron 15 and the shoulder 1|, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The bottom flange 63 rests upon the flange 5 of the base assembly and is secured thereto by bolts 12. I Y

Next, the inner wall panels 8| are secured in position with, if desired, bats of sound insulating material 82 positioned between them and the outer wall sections 6|. Each of these sheet metal inner wall panels 8| is formed at its top edge with a horizontally extending apertured flange 83, and along its side edges with inturned flanges 85, which preferably will be slightly outwardly sprung. Each panel 8| is put in position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, with its lower edge secured inside the upright flange 9 of the base assembly and with its upper flange 83 positioned immediately beneath (or above) the flange 61 of the outer wall panel. The flanges 85 extend into the space between the edge of the flanges 13 of the outer wall panels and the shoulders 41, 41 of the corner assemblies and in frictional engagement with the shoulders 41, 41.

Above the doorway is a lintel section 9| comprising a sheet metal panel bent inwardly at the base and then upwardly to form a flange 93 and bent upon itself along its upper edge at 95 and then inwardly to form a horizontal flange 91. The lintel section is bent inwardly along its lateral edges to form inturned flanges 99 which are secured to the flanges 3|, 3| of the front corner assemblies by machine screws |0I. A plate |03 secured to the flange 93 carries a guideway or track |05 for a roller bearing |01 secured to the bracket |09 of the door whereby the door is guided.

The door Il I may be any conventional folding leaf door, but preferably will be of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 120,324, filed January 13, 1937. The door will be hinged to one of the panels 4|, 4|' of the front corner assemblies.

The ceiling assembly, as shown in Figure 1, is substantially identical with that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 120,322, led January 13, 1937. It is preferably formed of a single sheet of metal bent to form a horizontal flange |2| extending about the outer edge of the assembly, an upright rib |23 of double thickness and adepending portion |25 extending nearly to the top of the doorway and provide a compartment |21 in which a light Ventilating means, etc., may be positioned and which can communicate with the interior of the booth through Ventilating openings or glass covered windows.

The ceiling assembly is secured in place at the top of the booth by machine screws |29 which pass through the flange |2| into tapped holes in the flanges 39 and 43 of the corner assemblies, flanges 61 and 83 of the wall section assemblies and flange 91 of the lintel assembly.

In Figure 10 there is shown in cross-sectional View a modified type of booth construction in accordance with this invention. In this construction two side wall assemblies, which are mirror images one of the other, are connected together by a rear wall assembly. Each side wall section comprises an outer wall of sheet metal formed into a side panel |35 extending the entire width and height of the booth, a front panel |35 extending to the edge of the doorway and terminating in an inturned flange |39, and a back panel |4| extending laterally the same distance as the front panel and likewise ending in an inturned flange |43. The base of this sheet metal wall throughout the front, side and back panels is provided, as in the modifications previously described, with an inturned flange by means of which it is secured to the base section.

Vertical columns |45 of channel cross section are positioned inunediately in back of the front panels |31 with their anges welded to the side panels |35 and the flanges |39, respectively. The column is provided at its base with an inturned ilange by means of which it is secured to the base assembly. The angle between the side panels |35 and the rear panels |4| is strengthened by vertical column members |41 of W-cross section, the lianges of which are welded to the side and rear panels, respectively.

The two side assemblies are connected together at the rear of the booth by means of a rear wall assembly comprising a single sheet metal panel |49 having inturned flanges |5| along its lateral edges. As in the modiiications earlier described, it is provided with a horizontal inwardly-extending flange along its lower edge so that it may be secured to the base assembly. 'I'he upper por-- tions of the side wall and rear wall assemblies are bent upon themselves exactly as in the modification previously described and illustrated in, for example, Figure 2, to give a horizontal flange corresponding to the flange 61 shown in that figure.

In assembling the booth shown in Figure 10, the two side assemblies and the rear assembly are secured to the base, and the side and rear assemblies are then secured together by bolts |53 passing through the flanges |43 and |5I.

The inner wall of the booth shown in Figure 10 is formed of three sheet metal panels 8| substantially identical in construction with the panels 8| previously described. 'Ihe inturned flanges provided along the lateral edges of these panels 8| engage the strengthening columns |45 and |41 to secure the panels in place.

In Figure 11 there is shown in horizontal cross section a partial view of a further modified type of construction in accordance with this invention. In this boltless type of construction separate front panels |55 are provided which are welded to vertical channel columns |45', one lateral edge of the panel |55 being bent parallel to the face to form the flange |51 to which is welded an angle iron |59 in such manner as to leave a slot slightly greater in thickness than the sheet metal used for the outer walls. Similarly, a rear panel |63, extending substantially the entire width and height of the rear wall is, along its lateral edges, bent twice at right angles to form the ilanges |55 and |51 to the latter of which is welded an angle iron |69 so as to form a slot |1| similar to the slot EI. Each of the side panels |13, which extend substantially the entire width and height of the side walls, is bent along its lateral edges to form the flanges |15 and |11. In assembling the booth the flanges |11 are slipped into the slots 15| and |1| where, when the booth is finally assembled, they are securely retained.

In Figure 12 there is shown a modified type of base construction in accordance with this invention, whereas in the base construction shown in Figure e the base assembly was formed of two channel shaped members secured together at |1 and a one-piece metal floor The modiiied structure shown in Figure 12 comprises a base assembly formed from a single member of channel cross section but provided with a ledge 5' and upturned flange 9 identical in structure and function with those of the base assembly shown in Figure 4. The floor, however, is, necessarily in this modified structure, vformed from two sheet metal plates II and il, which are mirror images one of the other. These plates rest along the inside wall of the base on the lower flanges of the wall section of the base and are bent over upon themselves at I3 at the bottom of the doorway and at |5' where they meet in the center of the booth so as to maintain the floor level.

This application is filed as, and constitutes, a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 125,394, filed February 12, 1931.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A telephone booth of the character described comprising a base including an inwardly extending horizontal ledge, a flange extending upwardly from the inner edge .of said ledge, a plurality of outer wall sections each detachably secured at its lower edge to said ledge and along a lateral edge to an adjoining wall section, a plurality of inner wall sections detachably secured to the outer wall structure, the bottom edges of said inner wall sections being engaged and held in position by said upwardly extending flange on the base, and a removable roof closing the top of the booth. v

2. A telephone booth of the character described comprising a base, a plurality of outer wall panels, a plurality of corner post elements designed to form with the said panels the outer wall of said booth, each of said corner post elements comprising a pair of spaced apart members forming outer and inner corner elements, means for detachably securing the outer wall panels to said base, means for detachably securing the said corner post elements to said base, means for detachably securing the said panels and corner post elements together, including a vertically extending, outwardly opening slot positioned adjacent the lateral edge of one of said named members and an inturned flange adapted to be positioned in said slot positioned adjacent the lateral edge of the other of said named members, a plurality yof inner wall panels, means for detachably securing said inner wall panels to the outer wall structure including inturned flexible flanges extending along the lateral edges of each inner wall panel and adapted to frictionally engage the inner corner element of the corner post, whereby said inner wall panels form with said inner corner elements the inner wall or lining of said booth, and a removable roof closing the top of the booth.

3. A telephone booth of the character described comprising a base including an inwardly extending horizontal ledge, a flange extending upwardly from the inner edge of said ledge, a plurality of outer wall sections each detachably secured at its lower edge to said ledge and along a lateral edge to an adjoining wall section, and a plurality of inner wall sections detachably secured to the outer wall structure, the bottom edges of said inner wall sections being engaged and held in position by said upwardly extending flange on the base.

4. A telephone booth of the character described comprising a base, a plurality .of outer wall panels, a plurality of corner post elements designed to form with the said panels the outer wall of said booth, each of said corner post elements comprising a pair of spaced apart members forming outer and inner corner elements, means for detachably securing the Aouter wall panels to said base, means for detachably securing the said corner post elements to said base, means for detachably securing the said panels and corner post elements together including a vertically extend- CFI ing, outwardly opening slot positioned adjacent the lateral 'edge of one of said named members and an inturned flange adapted to be positioned in said slot positioned adjacent the lateral edge of the other of said named members, a plurality of inner wall panels, and means for detachably securing said inner Wall panels to the outer wall structure including inturned iiexible anges extending along the lateral edges of each inner Wall panel and adapted to frictionally engage the inner corner element of the corner post, whereby said inner Wall panels form with said inner corner elements the inner wall or lining of said booth.

5. A telephone booth of the character described comprising a base, a plurality of outer Wall panels, a plurality of corner post elements designed to form with the said panels the outer Wall of said booth, each of said corner post elements comprising a pair of spaced apartmembers forming outer and inner corner elements, means for detachably securing the outer wall panels to said base, means for detachably securing the said corner post elements to said base, means for detachably securing the said panels and corner post elements together, a plurality of inner Wall panels, and means for detachably securing said inner Wall panels to the outer Wall Structure including inturned flexible flanges extending along the lateral edges of each inner Wall panel and adapted to frictionally engage the inner corner element of the corner post, whereby said inner wall panels form with said inner corner elements the inner wall or liningof said booth.

PERCIVAL H. SHERRON. 

